ADVANCE FOR MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2012 AND THEREAFTER - This Sept. 2011 photo provided by Vanguard Defense Industries, shows a ShadowHawk drone with Montgomery County, Texas SWAT team members. Unmanned military aircraft have tracked and killed terrorists in the Middle East and Asia. Their civilian cousins are now in demand by police departments, border patrols, power companies, news organizations and others wanting a bird�s-eye view that�s too impractical or dangerous for conventional planes or helicopters to get. Along with the enthusiasm, there are qualms. Drones overhead could invade people�s privacy. The government worries they could collide with passenger planes or come crashing down to the ground, concerns that have slowed more widespread adoption of the technology. (AP Photo/Lance Bertolino, Vanguard Defense Industries) less

ADVANCE FOR MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2012 AND THEREAFTER - This Sept. 2011 photo provided by Vanguard Defense Industries, shows a ShadowHawk drone with Montgomery County, Texas SWAT team members. Unmanned military ... more

Photo: Lance Bertolino, Associated Press

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An undated handout photo of a Skycatch quadcopter, which can locate malfunctioning panels at solar power plants. Drones from Skycatch and more established companies are monitoring power lines, inspecting oil and gas pipelines, checking wind turbines for defects and pinpointing malfunctioning solar panels. (Christian Sanz/Skycatch via The New York Times) -- NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH STORY SLUGGED ENERGY DRONES BY TODD WOODY. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. -- less

An undated handout photo of a Skycatch quadcopter, which can locate malfunctioning panels at solar power plants. Drones from Skycatch and more established companies are monitoring power lines, inspecting oil ... more

Photo: CHRISTIAN SANZ, New York Times

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In this handout released by the U.S. Navy, An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) May 14, 2013 in the Atlantic Ocean. George H.W. Bush is the first aircraft carrier to sucessfully catapult-launch an unmanned aircraft from its flight deck. The Navy plans to have unmanned aircraft on each of its carriers to be used for surveillance and be armed and used in combat roles. less

In this handout released by the U.S. Navy, An X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator flies over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) May 14, 2013 in the Atlantic ... more

Photo: U.S. Navy, Getty Images

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This iimage provided by Insitu Group shows a Scan Eagle unmanned ariel vehicle being launched from a superwedge at a testing area in Boardman Ore., July 7, 2004. The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Poker Flat Research Range's, new $1 million unmanned aircraft system, produced Insitu Group, should give FAA officials more clues about specific precautions and instruments the agency should require for the unmanned planes. Researchers are peddling use of these aircraft to oil companies and pipeline operators, wildfire managers and researchers whose job responsibilities span vast tracts of roadless terrain. (AP Photo/Insitu Group, Ed Turner) less

This iimage provided by Insitu Group shows a Scan Eagle unmanned ariel vehicle being launched from a superwedge at a testing area in Boardman Ore., July 7, 2004. The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Poker Flat ... more

Photo: Ed Turner, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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$250K police drone crashes into lake

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Divers are scouring the bottom of Lake Conroe in the hope of recovering a controversial $250,000 police drone that crashed into the water Friday.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office confirms the remote-controlled helicopter drone, which was bought in 2011 with a federal grant, suffered a malfunction and went down during an exercise over the lake.

The drone is equipped with a camera and an infrared scanning device and is used by MCSO for emergency management, missing person recovery and operation overwatch, for example filming above SWAT team activities, according to spokesman Brady Fitzgerald.

"Divers did go down to look for it. They are still looking. It went down in deep water where there is a rocky bottom. Visibility is also a problem because of sediment at the bottom of the lake," Fitzgerald said.

The mini helicopter which weighs around 49 pounds and, in a military setting, could be fitted with a single- or multiple-shot 40mm grenade launcher, 25mm Grenade Launcher or 12 gauge shotgun, according to Vanguard Defense Industries.

Civil Liberties organizations were critical when the ShadowHawk drone was purchased from Vanguard just over two years ago.

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At the time, Kirsten Bokenkamp, spokeswoman for the Houston-based American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the drones raise concerns because there are not enough safeguards in place to protect citizens from unreasonable search and seizure.

"It's just another example of technology that is outstripping our lives," she said. "What we mean by that, is the technology moves so quickly and the interpretations of the Fourth Amendment are failing to keep up with the technology. That brings privacy concerns."

MCSO officials emphasize that the drone is not used for surveillance.

Drones or unmanned aircraft are governed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which first authorized their use in the national airspace in 1990.

Fitzgerald said deputies were confident the drone would be recovered and further investigation into the crash would follow.